He is certainly the bargain of the season, but Wayne Rooney reckons Javier Hernandez is also the buy of the century.

Rooney, the latest Manchester United player to join Twitter, made the bold claim after the Mexican’s 19th goal of a remarkable debut season nudged Sir Alex Ferguson’s side closer to a record 19th league title triumph.

“Great result for us today,” wrote Rooney. “Love playing with Hernandez. Buy of century. Great lad too.” At just £7million, and given the significance of the goals ­he has scored this season, it was hard to disagree with Rooney’s glowing assessment of his prolific strike partner.

Rio Ferdinand, the Twitter doyen of United with 800,000-plus followers, was equally effusive in his praise of Hernandez following his dramatic 83rd-minute winner.

“Hernandez aka Lil Pea is the real deal....what a debut season in the PL!” wrote Ferdinand after United’s 100th goal in all competitions this season.

Only Dimitar Berbatov and Carlos Tevez have scored more goals in all competitions than Hernandez this season and there is every chance of him overtaking them, with both currently injured. Moreover, of his 19 goals, six have been outright winners, compelling evidence that Hernandez scores goals of huge significance rather than merely plundering those to add gloss to his tally.

When set against the £50m Chelsea paid for Fernando Torres, the £35m Liverpool spent on Andy Carroll and the £50m Manchester City lavished on Mario Balotelli and Edin Dzeko, the purchase of Hernandez looks an even more stunning piece of business.

But even Ferguson admitted he has been supprised by Hernandez’s impact this season, expecting this to have been a year of transition and settling-in for the 22-year-old, whom he likened to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – another bargain buy.

“We said to Hernandez when he arrived exactly what we said to Solskjaer,” said Ferguson. “That his first season would be all about integration, getting used to the club and getting used to the training.

“We thought it would take time for him to bed in, particularly having come from Central America. We didn’t expect him to do so well. But he’s getting his rewards for all his hard work.

“He’s first into training at 9am and the last to leave. He’s got a natural talent to move around the box, make space and his timing is terrific.” Hernandez’s winner means United need seven points from their remaining four games to be champions. A point from either of their games against Arsenal or Chelsea, plus wins against Blackburn and Blackpool, will be enough.

Everton keeper Tim Howard had done an impressive job in keeping Hernandez at bay, but there was little he could do to prevent his far-post header from finding the net in the 83rd minute.

Howard, who spent three seasons at United, said it was no coincidence they continued to score such late, decisive goals when lesser sides would accept it was not going to happen.

“You always expect United to score late on,” said Howard. “When I was here, whether I was on the field or on the bench, you just knew the goal would come.

“They create the chances. United are a top team so they’re always going to create good chances. They’ll work the ball and pass it around.

“It won’t just be a one-off shot, they’ll have four or five chances in the last 10 minutes and they have the talent to put the ball away.

“I think they’ll go on to win the league now. Their resilience has always been there, there’s a bravado about it.

“Some of the teams are drawing closer, but there’s not a wobble about this United team. The foundations are set. The fans, the senior players, the management, they all know they’re going to win the title and just see it out.”

Much has been said this season about this United side lacking the excitement and elan of its predecessors, the current crop of players being more functional than flamboyant.

But Everton boss David Moyes claimed Fergie had laid the foundations of another all-conquering side, one that can maintain the success of the United teams of the past two decades.

“United are continually building teams and this looks like the start of another team,” said Moyes.

“Sir Alex has a couple of players who have served him so well coming to the end of their time, but United are building a new team.Hernandez, for example, and the Da Silva brothers, so they have some new players coming through all the time.

“I thought the crowd really roared them on too. I’ve been here quite a few times and they were the noisiest they’ve been for a while.”

Moyes praised his side’s resistance but felt one slip-up cost them the game. He added: “They put us under a lot of pressure but we defended great and Tim Howard did really well.

“It was a shame that one lapse gave them their opportunity.

“But that’s what happens when you open up and make a mistake against United here – you’ll be punished for it.”